Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

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Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Hodson, (Councillor Long was substitute).

To approve the minutes of the previous meeting.

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RESOLVED: The Minutes from the previous meeting held on the 16^th July 2024 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Please indicate if there are any interests which should be declared.  A declaration of an interest should indicate the nature of the interest (if not already declared on the Register of Interests) and the agenda item to which it relates.  If a disclosable pecuniary interest is declared, the Member should withdraw from the room whilst the matter is discussed.

Those declarations apply to all Members present, whether the Member is part of the meeting, attending to speak as a local Member on an item or simply observing the meeting from the public seating area.

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Councillor Bland declared a Pecinary interest on  EC30:The Wash East Coast Management Strategy- Unit C as he owned a property in Heacham on the ridge. 

To consider any business which, by reason of special circumstances, the Chair proposed to accept as urgent under Section 100(b)(4)(b) of the Local Government Act, 1972.

There was none.

Members wishing to speak pursuant to Standing Order 34 should inform the Chair of their intention to do so and what items they wish to be heard before a decision on that item is taken.  

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Councillor Joyce, Squire, Rust and de Whalley were present under Standing Order 34.

If any.

Item of business 10, LAHF Round 3 was brought forward on the agenda to that published to item 7 at the request of the Assistant Director, Regeneration, Housing and Place.

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The Assistant Director for Regeneration, Housing and Place presented the report to the Panel. He highlighted the funding was to provide 12 new build home, 4 for eligible Afghan households and 8 properties for temporary accommodation.

He highlighted to the Panel 12 new build homes which would then be transferred to West Norfolk Housing Company. The Assistant Director for Regeneration, Housing and Place added this funding supported the Borough Council’s new Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy.

He outlined the options and recommendations set out in the repot and drew the Panel’s attention to the risk of delivery being mitigated due to the stock of properties being constructed by the Borough Council.

The Assistant Director for Regeneration, Housing and Place provided an update to the Panel on LAHF 1 and 2 which were delivered and confirmed the LAHF 3 date for delivery was 31^st March 2026.

The Chair thanked the Assistant Director for Regeneration, Housing and Place for the report and invited questions and comments from the Panel.

Councillor Long commented the report was concise and sought clarification if the properties were from new build stock or existing properties on the market.

The Assistant Director for Regeneration, Housing and Place confirmed to the Panel the opportunities in the current market would be considered and acquisition from a third party however using the Borough Council’s stock of properties made it easier in LAHF 1 and 2.

Councillor Kemp asked if the funding would be used on abandoned and existing properties which required refurbishment or if it was only used on new build properties.

The Assistant Director for Regeneration, Housing and Place highlighted the benefits of new build properties and explained the flexibility of the funding which that opportunity could be explored. He added the maintenance of new build properties were more suited for the overall achievement.

Councillor Rust, Portfolio Holder added how the Borough Council is fortunate to have the opportunity again and highlighted the benefit of LAHF 1 and 2. She added further the Borough Council’s stock provided assurance on quality.

Councillor Bullen sought clarification on the location of these properties.

The Assistant Director for Regeneration, Housing and Place confirmed the properties would be in King’ Lynn.

RESOLVED: The Environment and Community Panel supports the recommendations to Cabinet as set out below;

1.    The Council will enter a Memorandum of Understanding with MHCLG based on the attached prospectus for the Local Authority Housing Fund (see appendix 2). Authority is delegated to the Executive Director (Place) in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing People and 105 Communities to agree the final terms of the Memorandum of Understanding with MHCLG.

2.    The Council will accept the total sum of £1,694,876 offered to the Council by MHCLG under the Local Authority Housing Fund to deliver the programme understanding the match funding requirements as set out in the report and attached prospectus.

3.    Cabinet agrees that, subject to agreement from West Norfolk  ...  view the full minutes text for item EC29:

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The Environment Agency representatives gave a presentation on the Wash East Coast Management Strategy (WECMS) to the Panel.

Phillipa Hulme from the Environment Agency explained the policy hierarchy including the Shoreline Management Plans (SMP), funding group and stakeholder group.

Phillipa Hulme highlighted which part of the Wash East Coast were Unit A, B and C. Units A was Hunstanton Cliffs, Unit B was Hunstanton Town and Unit C was South Hunstanton to Wolferton Creek. She explained the SMP policies and timeline for Units A, B and C.

She explained the current management approach which included annual beach recycling, intermittent beach recharge and ongoing beach monitoring. She brought to the Panel’s attention the key challenges with this management approach, which was ridge mobility and beach recharge consequently a review had taken place.

George Fuhrman from the Environment Agency highlighted key conclusions which included the Wash East Coast Management Strategy (WECMS), economic trigger for change which had been met although the environmental and evacuation trigger had not been met. He added further key conclusions where annual beach recycling was effective and sustainable and human activity and damage on the ridge needed to be limited.

George Fuhrman outlined the WECMS review which included stakeholder engagement, environmental impact assessments, climate change allowances, funding calculations, coastal processes and the standard of protection provided by the defences.

He explained the WECMS review timeline to the Panel along with the engagement which had taken place. He added the key takeaway messages were that the challenges were unique and complex. Engagement with the community and other partners would continue throughout the process and the primary defence, damage to and human activity on the ridge needed to be limited to allow it to perform its flood risk function.

The Environmental Health Manager added as part of the engagement the drop-in sessions were well attended and positively received.

The Chair thanked the representatives from the Environment Agency for the report and invited questions from the Panel.

Councillor Long commented a no regret clause in the policy plan should be inherited going forward. He added there was records of King’s Lynn Conservancy Board which highlighted what had happened in and around the Wash. He sought clarification on if it was correct material from the Wash was adding to the defences instead of eroding and nature was providing barriers already.

George Fuhrman clarified the trend of the Wash was accretion rather than erosion.

Phillipa Hulme commented she was not aware there was a no regret clause previously or the data of the wash available however the WECMS review was the focus.

Councillor Long commented further it was positive to know there was accretion and welcomed the Wash East Coast Management Strategy.

The Environmental Health Manager commented overall there was accretion however unit A, the Hunstanton Cliffs & Unit B Hunstanton Sea Defences were suffering with erosion.

Councillor Kemp sought clarification on the timescales and why it would take until 2027/2028. She further  ...  view the full minutes text for item EC30:

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The Environmental Health Manager presented the report to the Panel and explained the two air quality management areas in King’s Lynn which were Gaywood Clock and London Road. He informed the Panel the annual mean was 40µg/m³  which both areas had previously breached the standard.  He explained once areas had been declared then an air quality action plan was implemented.

He highlighted the air quality action plan included six priorities and thirteen measures which included increased active travel, public transport (bus) improvements, transport management, review new developments, public information and air quality project. He added measures included working with Norfolk County Council for the Southgates masterplan, low emission buses and modifying traffic lights to run efficiently.

He referred the Panel to the recommendations and highlighted the reasons for the London Road air quality action plan to be adopted. The Environmental Health Manager explained the gyratory review and Southgates Masterplan combined with other new developments; further air modelling would be carried out to assess the combined impact from new traffic flow. He added planning applications were considered as part of this action plan. He added further the reasons of the Gaywood Clock air quality management area to be revoked was due to the annual mean no longer exceeding 40µg/m³ .

The Chair thanked the Environmental Health Manager for the report and invited questions and comments from the Panel.

Councillor Colwell expressed his concerns on revoking Gaywood’s air quality management area. He commented he had researched the data and there were periods during commuting hours where the annual mean would be exceeded. He asked with the Florence Fields developments and other new developments, what consideration had been given. He stressed this recommendation should be held off and reviewed in the future.

The Chair, Councillor Collop echoed Councillor Colwell comments and expressed her concern with revoking the Gaywood’s air quality management area.

The Environmental Health Manager clarified the monitoring data was in the annual states reports and confirmed the Statutory air quality objective of 40µg/m^3. had not been exceed over the last 5 years. He confirmed Gaywood measurements were currently all under 30µg/m³  and added the data was considered from a scientific point of view and based on human health. He added the Florence Fields was considered and was confident in revoking Gaywood Air Quality Action Plan

The Chair, Councillor Collop asked if what month of the year the data was collected and asked if this could be postponed for a year.

The Environmental Health Manager clarified the data was an annual mean therefore throughout the year data was collected. He added monitoring would continue in Gaywood and there were additional tubes to monitor. He added that further this was considered as part of the Florence Fields planning application.

Councillor Colwell thanked the Environmental Health Manager for the reassurance the monitoring would continue and understood the annual mean determined the air quality management area however wanted to highlight  ...  view the full minutes text for item EC31:

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The Waste and Recycling Manager presented the report and confirmed to the Panel there was an officer delegated decision. He explained the proposal was a trial in four areas to provide households with a free supply of caddy liners. He advised the first part of the Food Waste Collection Trial was to be focused on schools and to encourage and influence children such as recycling week. He explained in the future this was then to be rolled out to non-commercial settings such as residential care homes. He brought to the Panel’s attention there had been a decline in food waste recycling since the pandemic and since food caddy liners had stopped being sold.

The Waste and Recycling Manager explained to the Panel, food waste was now more valuable and provided opportunities for companies to pay for food waste to process it and make it into electricity.

He added the four areas in which the trial was to take place, information and support would be provided to residents. He explained further if residents were to actively participate in this trial, food caddy liners would be provided.

The Chair thanked the Waste and Recycling Manager for the report and invited questions and comments from the Panel.

Councillor Heneghan commented providing caddy liners was a good incentive and encouraged residents to use their food caddies.

The Chair, Councillor Collop referred to the years when food caddies were being provided if there was an increase in the amount of recycling and sought clarification of the overall percentage.

The Waste and Recycling Manager confirmed there was an increase of 20 tonnes a month, in parts of Downham Market, Docking and King’s Lynn town centre.

Councillor Colwell noted one of the areas in the trial was Reffley Lane and asked how many households this would be and commented he would like to encourage and promote this.

The Waste and Recycling Manager confirmed an estimate of 900 homes.

Councillor Long commented the food waste scheme was beneficial for young families and the food waste caddy being introduced.

Councillor Bullen sought clarification on how many tonnes were previously collected.

The Waste and Recycling Manager confirmed initially 3000 tonnes per year were collected in 2013 and 1800 tonnes were now being collected.

Councillor Kemp expressed her support and questioned in there was a service provided to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. 

The Waste and Recycling Manager confirmed there was not a service provided to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and encouraged the opportunity.

The Vice Chair, Councillor Devulapalli sought clarification on the date of food waste action week and questioned if this could be extended to restaurants.

The Waste and Recycling Manager confirmed this was something which could be done over time as there was limited capacity with staff. He added the focus was on long term impact and the food waste action week was in April 2024 and would be 3^rd- 9^th March 2025

FOOD WASTE  ...  view the full minutes text for item EC32:

Members of the Panel were reminded that an eform was available on the Intranet which could be completed and submitted if Members had items which they would like to be considered for addition to the Work Programme.

RESOLVED: The Panel’s Work Programme was noted.

To note that the next meeting of the Environment and Community Panel is scheduled to take place on 8^th October 2024 at 4:30pm in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Saturday Market Place.

The next meeting of the Environment and Community Panel would be held on 8^th October 2024 in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Saturday Market Place.